Michael Vick - 4th and 1, what is the call?
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Michael Vick is down, but is he out?
What does a veteran defense attorney say the Michael should do with his plea bargain?
“If he’s innocent, he should go to trial, no-brainer,” says Steven Benjamin, past president of the Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. “If he isn’t innocent, it’s also a no-brainer that he has to reach some kind of an agreement (a deal with prosecutors).” source
Now the reasoning goes like this, if you plea bargain and admit guilt, then your sentencing is lighter than if you plead not guilty and get convicted.
“Absolutely, that’s a recognized dynamic in federal criminal sentencing,” Benjamin says.
“It is called ‘acceptance of responsibility,’ and under the federal sentencing guidelines, acceptance of responsibility lowers your sentencing score. It’s the sentencing score that determines your sentencing range under the guidelines.”
Basically, Steven says that Michael should take the plea bargain, begin negotiating with the NFL and get out there and spin some positive PR.
Meanwhile, Christine Brennan of USAToday.com says Michael faces somewhat of a conundrum (For you tried and true football fans, that is kind of like a decision to go for it on 4th down at midfield. If you blow it, you are in a really big mess.)
But if he plea bargains and admits wrongdoing, he might find himself serving less time in jail, but more in Goodell’s dog house, especially if it’s not just the dog fighting that has him in hot water, but gambling on it as well. A plea bargain means he lied to the commissioner. A long jail term isn’t what Vick wants, but crossing Goodell isn’t a good strategy either.
In the end, if Vick is concerned about returning to the football field as soon as possible (there’s always the option that he might never come back), Goodell is judge and jury in a rather lofty court, that of NFL opinion. source
Christine continues to theorize on what Commissioner Goodell should do if Michael receives jail time.
One would imagine that the get-tough commissioner would take his time making a decision on what has become the most important case on the NFL docket. And he should. Let the case play out in our legal system, let Vick serve his time if there is time to be served, then mete out the punishment from the league. It makes no sense for Goodell to suspend Vick for this season if he ends up in jail for this season. That would be no suspension at all.
Should be interesting, as once again Michael Vick, the quarterback, will have to make the call!
NFL Football Fan Question Is Michael guilty?
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POSTED IN: Atlanta Falcons, Michael Vick, NFL Football
2 opinions for Michael Vick - 4th and 1, what is the call?
Summer
Aug 17, 2007 at 3:16 pm
Personally, I think that Michael Vick opitimizes human arrogance at it’s best. He is so cocky that he thinks he can get away with anything. I think that he should be treated the same way as the dogs he was training to fight. I’m sure it feels great to have someone rip your face off and bit your throat until you can’t breathe anymore. If the NFL doesn’t not kick him out of the league then they are just as ignorant as Vick himself. Maybe he should lose his pretty little contract and have to go back to living on food stamps. He’s not even that talented so I am surprised that he is still playing in the NFL. I hope that he gets a judge that is a member of PETA who comes down on him hard. Why do we let these people treat animals this way, but if he even looked crossed-eyed at a child we would have him executed? Let’s step up to the plate and make an example out of Mr. Cocky!
t
Aug 17, 2007 at 8:13 pm
Micheal Vick is a loser. He is a public figure who has no compassion for a very simple animal. What does that then make him capable of? If this case involved killing human beings then this would be a no brainer if the NFL ever lets him play again then they are Nazi’s and the United States is just as or more ****** up than the third world countries we spend our money, soldiers and time helping. Vick is a **** faced, *****. He should burn in hell or better yet be put in a cage in the middle of no where with 2 starved, beaten and rabid pit bulls. ***** You Michael Vick— Rot ***** Face!! Dog owners and anyone who says they have morals HATE YOU!!!
Editor Note: Puhlease, my Mom reads these. This comment was edited and is still kind of on the edge. Please, show your passions against Michael without the swear word inferences. This comment was edited.
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